CH 1-10

Summary

🌶️ “You belong to us, little fox. You always have.” Mia Calloway never believed in fate—until it came for her in the form of two devastatingly powerful werewolf twins. Theodore and Alexander Nightfang spent their lives preparing for the prophecy that would define their future. But when they find their fated mate in the human world, they face their greatest challenge yet: winning her heart. Torn between two worlds, Mia must decide if she will embrace her destiny or walk away from the wolves who would do anything to claim her. Theodore is fire and instinct, a warrior who ignites every part of her. Alexander is ice and control, a strategist who unravels her with just a look. Fate has bound them together. But fate isn’t love. And loving two Alphas might just be impossible… Or it might be exactly what she was meant for.

Chapter 1

POV: Theo

The scent of steel and sweat clung to my skin as I landed my final strike, sending my opponent sprawling onto the dirt. He groaned, rolling onto his side, but I barely noticed. My pulse pounded in my ears, my breath ragged, but the tension in my chest refused to ease.

“Enough,” Magnus called, stepping forward from where he’d been watching. “That’s the fifth one you’ve taken down in a row, Theo. You’re pushing too hard.”

I rolled my shoulders, ignoring the ache in my muscles. “I’m fine.”

Beta Magnus gave me a knowing look. “The Moon Ball is in a few hours. You should be getting ready.”

A muscle in my jaw ticked. I knew that. I knew damn well what tonight was.

My first Moon Ball. My first chance to meet my mate.

I had trained for this my entire life—trained to be a leader, a warrior, an Alpha. I had been told since I was a child that I was born for greatness, that my brother and I would lead together, that we would change everything. But none of it mattered without her.

The one meant for me.

The one who would finally quiet the restless, aching need in my soul.

But what if she wasn’t there?

My father had waited fifteen years for my mother. He had searched and suffered, his wolf on the brink of breaking. What if history repeated itself? What if I spent years clawing at the empty space inside me, desperate for something I couldn’t find?

I exhaled sharply, trying to push the thought away.

I turned to Magnus. “One more round.”

Magnus sighed but didn’t argue. He knew better than anyone that I needed this—needed to burn off the energy thrumming in my veins.

I shifted my stance, ready for my next opponent. But before I could move, a familiar voice cut through the training grounds.

“Theodore Nightfang.”

I froze.

I turned slowly to find my mother standing at the edge of the arena, her golden hair catching the light, her warm brown eyes locked onto mine.

She had never used my full name unless I was in trouble.

Shit.

Magnus stepped back immediately, wisely choosing not to get between me and my mother.

I swallowed and forced a smirk. “Hey, Mom.”

Her expression didn’t change. “Why are you here?”

I grabbed a towel, wiping the sweat from my face. “Just getting in some extra training.”

Vanessa Cameron Nightfang crossed her arms. “Theodore, it’s your first Moon Ball. You don’t need to be out here beating yourself into the ground.”

I shrugged. “I needed to clear my head.”

Her gaze softened just slightly. “You’re nervous.”

I scoffed. “I’m not nervous.”

She stepped forward, reaching up to brush damp hair from my forehead. It was such a simple gesture, but something about it made my throat tighten.

“You don’t have to pretend with me,” she murmured.

I swallowed hard, staring at the ground.

“I just…” My voice was rough, unsteady. “What if she’s not there tonight?”

My mother exhaled, her fingers brushing my arm. “Then she’s still out there somewhere. And you’ll find her.”

I clenched my jaw. “Dad waited fifteen years.”

“Yes,” she said softly. “And he found me, so it was worth every second.”

I looked at her then, at the warmth in her eyes. Eyes that had comforted my father in his darkest moments.

I had never doubted my parents’ love. It was powerful, unshakable, forged in battle and fate. But I had also heard of my father’s suffering before he found her.

I had known the stories, the way it nearly broke him. He needed potions and spells to keep his wolf under control during the waiting process.

And I wasn’t sure I could survive that kind of waiting.

My mother must have seen the storm in my expression because she squeezed my arm. “You are strong, Theo. No matter what happens tonight, you are not alone. And when the time comes, your mate will be worth every second of waiting.”

I inhaled deeply, letting her words settle inside me.

Then I nodded.

She smiled. “Now, go get ready. I want at least one dance with my son before the night is over.”

I let out a breath of a laugh. “Yes, Luna.”

She rolled her eyes at the title but turned to leave. I watched her go, her presence as steadying as always.

Maybe she was right. Maybe I just had to trust that fate knew what it was doing.

But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my path wouldn’t be as simple as waiting.

That something was coming.

And it would change everything.

I stood under the steaming water of the shower, letting the heat ease the tension in my muscles. My mother’s words lingered in my mind, but they hadn’t erased the tight knot in my chest.

I wanted to believe that my mate would be there tonight. That I wouldn’t have to wait.

That I wouldn’t be alone.

By the time I stepped out of the shower and threw on a towel, the evening had settled in. The palace was alive with the sounds of preparation—the staff moving quickly through the halls, the distant hum of music floating in from the grand ballroom.

The Moon Ball was beginning.

I stepped into my room, rubbing my hair with a towel, but I wasn’t surprised to find Xander already there.

He sat casually in one of the chairs near the fireplace, legs crossed, a crystal glass in his hand. He wasn’t dressed yet, still in dark slacks and an unbuttoned dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up. His Nightfang family ring caught the light as he swirled whatever expensive whiskey he’d probably stolen from our father’s collection.

He glanced up at me, his sharp blue eyes assessing.

“You look like you trained all day,” he said.

I scoffed, tossing my towel onto a chair. “You say that like it’s not my usual look.”

His lips twitched. “Fair enough.”

I went to my wardrobe, pulling out the tailored black suit waiting for me. Xander, of course, would wear his perfectly, every button in place, every detail precise. Mine would end up a little undone by the end of the night. I was too restless to sit still in stiff, formal clothes for long.

“Training before the Moon Ball?” Xander mused, sipping his drink. “Very primal of you.”

“Needed to burn off energy,” I muttered, fastening my cufflinks.

Xander watched me, his gaze shrewd. “You’re worried.”

I didn’t answer.

He set his drink down on the table beside him. “You think about it more than I do.”

I exhaled sharply. “You don’t think about it?”

He tilted his head slightly. “Not the same way you do.”

That was the difference between us. I felt everything like a wildfire—too hot, too fast, burning through me before I could stop it. Xander was colder, more controlled, playing the long game.

I envied him for that.

I tugged on my jacket, adjusting the collar. “You really don’t care if your mate is there tonight?”

Xander leaned back in his chair, considering. “Of course, I care. But if she isn’t… then she isn’t. I’ll find her, and you will find yours too.”

I clenched my jaw. “And if it takes years, like Dad?”

He was quiet for a long moment. Then he exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Then we wait.”

I looked at him, and for the first time, I saw the crack in his composure.

He didn’t want to wait either.

But he was better at hiding it.

Before I could say anything else, there was a knock at the door.

We both turned as it swung open, revealing the one person who could silence us both.

Liam Nightfang, Alpha King of the most powerful pack in existence.

And our father.

Chapter 2

POV: Theo

He stepped inside, his presence commanding as always. Even dressed in a simple, tailored black suit, he looked like a king—tall, broad-shouldered, every movement filled with quiet strength.

His dark brown hair was neatly styled, his striking blue eyes scanning both of us.

“You look like me,” he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Both of you.”

Xander chuckled. “I assume that was the goal.”

Liam crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. “The hair, the eyes, the strong jaw… all mine.” Then his gaze softened slightly. “But the nose and lips? That’s all your mother.”

I glanced at Xander, and despite myself, I felt a small sense of satisfaction. He wasn’t wrong. We did look like him.

He stepped closer, his expression shifting. “You’re nervous.”

Neither of us answered.

Liam sighed. “I remember my first Moon Ball. I barely made it through the night.”

I frowned. “Why?”

His lips pressed together. “Because she wasn’t there.”

A cold weight settled in my stomach.

He had waited years.

Fifteen fucking years.

Years of loneliness, of feeling incomplete, of searching.

And now, I had to wonder—would I suffer the same fate?

My father must have seen the worry in my expression because he put a firm hand on my shoulder. “I won’t lie to you. The wait is hard. But if she isn’t there tonight, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t exist. It doesn’t mean fate won’t lead you to her. And finding your mother? Worth every second of waiting…”

I swallowed hard.

“I know it’s difficult,” he continued, his voice lower, meant just for me. “But I promise you, Theo—when you find her, none of the waiting will matter.”

I inhaled deeply, letting his words settle inside me.

Xander, who had been watching quietly, finally stood, buttoning his shirt and straightening his cuffs. “Well,” he said smoothly, “no use standing around here all night.”

Liam chuckled. “No, I suppose not.”

He clapped a hand on each of our shoulders. “No matter what happens tonight, you are both my sons. And you are both ready for this.”

For the first time in hours, something inside me settled.

Maybe my mate was out there. Maybe she wasn’t.

But one thing was certain.

I wasn’t alone.

The ballroom was breathtaking.

Golden chandeliers bathed the room in warm, flickering light, their glow reflecting off the polished marble floors. Tall, arched windows let the silver moonlight spill in, casting ethereal shadows across the elegant space. The scent of fresh roses and aged whiskey lingered in the air, blending with the unmistakable pulse of anticipation that ran through every unmated wolf in the room.

This was it.

The Moon Ball.

The moment every unmated werewolf waited for—the night the Moon Goddess wove her will into our fates, guiding us toward the one we were meant for.

I tugged at my collar, my body tense despite the easy way I held myself.

Beside me, Xander handed me a glass of whiskey, his own already in hand. He took a slow sip, his expression unreadable.

“Try to look like you’re enjoying yourself,” he muttered. “People are staring.”

I let out a low scoff and took a drink, the burn settling in my chest.

It was true. Eyes followed us wherever we moved.

Women—wolves from noble bloodlines, powerful packs, and even a few ambitious outsiders—stole glances at us, some bolder than others. Some practically threw themselves into our path, their scents thick with hope.

But I wasn’t here for them.

I was here for her.

If she was even here.

A familiar voice carried over the hum of the crowd, commanding attention with the same quiet power I’d grown up with.

My father.

Liam Nightfang stood at the front of the grand room, his presence alone silencing the whispers. Dressed in a sharp black suit, he looked every bit the Alpha King he was. At his side, my mother stood with effortless grace, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, her warm brown eyes filled with quiet pride.

She was the Queen of this world. And she had once been human for a week.

My father went to the human world to find her again, and he did it.

Proof that fate worked in ways none of us could predict.

Liam lifted his glass. “Tonight, we honor the Moon Goddess, whose light guides us. We celebrate the bonds she has created, and those yet to be formed.” His eyes swept over the crowd, lingering briefly on me and Xander.

I clenched my jaw.

We both knew why.

This was our night.

Or at least, it was supposed to be.

“May those fated for one another find their way,” my father finished, his voice steady, unwavering. “And may the Goddess bless us all.”

A chorus of raised glasses and murmured agreements echoed through the ballroom. The music swelled once more, and the celebration continued.

Xander took another sip of his drink, his gaze shifting toward me. “Midnight is in fifteen minutes.”

I exhaled through my nose. “I know.”

Midnight. The hour when the Moon Goddess’s will was strongest.

When the pull of the mate bond would be undeniable.

If she was here… we would know soon.

And if she wasn’t—

I forced the thought away, taking another drink, the burn barely noticeable anymore.

“You’re tense,” Xander murmured, just low enough for only me to hear.

I gave him a sharp look. “And you’re too calm.”

His lips curled in the barest smirk. “One of us has to be.”

I rolled my shoulders, forcing myself to relax. The room felt too hot, too crowded, my body humming with restless energy.

Women still sent glances our way, waiting, hoping.

But none of them were her.

And as the seconds ticked by, my chest tightened.

Midnight was coming.

And I had never wanted anything more in my life.

The minutes crawled by like a slow, agonizing death.

I clenched my jaw as I watched another couple embrace, the unmistakable glow of the mate bond flaring between them. A young she-wolf gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as her mate—a warrior from one of the northern packs—pulled her in, their connection undeniable.

I turned away, my grip tightening around my whiskey glass.

Another pair found each other. Then another.

The ballroom buzzed with excitement as the mate bond snapped into place for so many others. Laughter, gasps, the quiet murmurs of wolves who had waited their entire lives for this moment.

And yet, I felt nothing.

No pull. No connection.

No sign that she was here.

Xander stood beside me, unreadable as always, but I knew he was watching the same thing I was. Waiting. Expecting.

Dreading.

I exhaled sharply, trying to shove the frustration down, but it coiled inside me, restless and sharp.

I wasn’t the only one people were watching.

The glances in our direction weren’t just admiration anymore. They were curious. Questioning.

Whispers floated through the air, too quiet for most to hear—but not for me.

“Neither of them?”

“How is that possible?”

“I thought for sure one of them would find her tonight…”

The murmurs dug into my skin like claws, but I kept my face still, my body locked in a stance of forced ease.

I could feel my father’s eyes on me from across the room. My mother’s, too.

They said nothing, but I knew what they were thinking.

I lifted my glass to my lips, only to realize it was empty.

Xander, still calm, still unreadable, motioned for a server, replacing his own drink. He glanced at me, lifting a brow.

I shook my head.

I didn’t need more whiskey.

I needed her.

The clock was almost at midnight.

This was when the Moon Goddess’s will was supposed to be strongest.

My pulse pounded in my ears as I scanned the room again, as if I had somehow missed her.

As if she would appear in the last second, and all of this—this weight, this fear, this desperate ache in my chest—would disappear.

But she didn’t.

The last chime of midnight rang through the ballroom.

And nothing changed.

I still felt nothing.

I still had nothing.

My hands curled into fists at my sides, my jaw locked so tight it ached.

Xander finally moved, exhaling as he swirled his drink in his glass. “Looks like the night didn’t go as planned.”

No shit.

I stayed silent, breathing through the frustration burning under my skin.

Because if I didn’t…

I might just fucking shatter.

Chapter 3

POV: Xander

The night air was cool against my skin as I stepped onto the balcony, the sounds of the Moon Ball murmuring behind me. The weight of expectation pressed against my chest like an iron chain—unseen but suffocating.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. Theo was pacing inside, his frustration evident in every sharp movement. I didn’t need to look at him to know what he was feeling. It mirrored my own.

The mate bond had not snapped into place. Not for him. Not for me.

I had prepared for this moment my entire life. I had read every prophecy, studied every historical account of fated mates. I knew the bond wasn’t always instant. That sometimes, fate took its time. I knew it, but it didn’t stop the ache.

Because the truth was—I felt the absence. The empty space in my soul where she should be.

I always had.

It was like a thread pulled too tight, stretched across years of waiting. Since childhood, I had been told that Theo and I were destined for greatness. That we would be Alphas like no other. That together, we were stronger. That our mate would be the key to it all.

But where the hell was she?

I clenched my jaw, tightening my grip around the crystal tumbler in my hand. The whiskey burned down my throat, but it did nothing to quiet the unease settling in my bones.

Theo finally stopped his pacing, his fists clenched. “I don’t get it,” he muttered, voice thick with frustration. “Every damn year, the Moon Goddess blesses new mates. Why not us?”

I turned to face him, watching as he battled the emotions he so rarely let anyone see. I knew him better than anyone. He needed this—needed her. Maybe even more than I did.

“We always knew it wouldn’t be simple,” I said, my voice even. Controlled. “We’re not just any Alphas, Theo. We were never going to have an easy path.”

Theo exhaled sharply. “Bullshit,” he growled. “Mates aren’t supposed to be a damn luxury, Xander. They’re a right. A part of us.”

I didn’t disagree.

His words cut through something deep inside me, but I refused to let it show. Instead, I downed the rest of my drink and set the glass down with a soft clink.

“Theo,” I said, stepping closer, lowering my voice. “I feel it too.”

His eyes snapped to mine.

“I feel the emptiness,” I admitted. “I feel the waiting. The hunger. The ache.”

His shoulders tensed, his jaw locked.

“But we can’t fall apart,” I continued. “Not tonight. Not ever.”

Theo exhaled heavily, his hands settling on his hips as he looked away. After a moment, he nodded. Not happy. Not reassured. But accepting—for now.

I looked back toward the ballroom, scanning the crowd. Unmated wolves were still seeking their mates, the hopeful glances, the quiet conversations. Our parents had already made their speech, their presence undeniable as they led our pack with the grace and strength they were known for.

Our father stood near the center of the room, speaking to one of the Elders, his stance powerful yet at ease. And then, as if sensing me, he turned—his sharp blue eyes meeting mine.

For a moment, he simply studied me.

Then his gaze flicked to Theo, and I saw the understanding in his expression. He knew.

Liam Nightfang had waited fifteen years for Vanessa.

He knew exactly what we were feeling.

Before either of us could move, a presence shifted to our right. Aaleric.

The old seer stood tall, his silver-threaded robes catching the glow of the chandeliers. His face was unreadable, but his eyes—the knowing gleam within them—made my pulse slow.

I had been waiting for this.

Aaleric inclined his head slightly before speaking. “Come with me.”

His voice was quiet. But it didn’t need to be loud.

Theo and I exchanged a glance before following, the weight of destiny pressing heavier with every step.

Because deep down, I already knew—

Tonight was not the end.

It was only the beginning.

The moment Aaleric motioned for us to follow, I knew.

I had been waiting for this—this gut-deep certainty that something was off, that the night wouldn’t end the way we had hoped. It had been gnawing at me since the first stroke of midnight, when the mate bond failed to pull us toward anyone.

Now, my parents walked ahead of Theo and me, their shoulders tense, their movements sharp. We followed Aaleric through a set of grand double doors, away from the ballroom’s golden light and intoxicating scent of wine, roses, and warm bodies. The murmurs of newly bonded mates and clinking glasses faded as we stepped into a private chamber—a room draped in deep midnight-blue fabrics, the Nightfang crest embroidered into the chairs.

Aaleric turned to face us, his silvered brows furrowing. He looked older tonight.

Liam Nightfang, my father, crossed his arms and stared at his oldest friend. “Say it.” His voice was firm, but I heard the slight edge of something else beneath it.

Theo and I stood side by side, waiting, silent.

Aaleric exhaled. “The mate bond should have led you to her tonight.”

A muscle in Theo’s jaw flexed.

“But it didn’t,” I said smoothly, keeping my voice level. “And you know why.”

Aaleric’s piercing gaze met mine. “I felt something tonight—something unusual. A pull of magic, distant but strong.”

Theo took a step forward, his frustration barely contained. “Stop speaking in riddles, old man. If she was here, we would have found her. What are you trying to say?”

Aaleric’s eyes darkened with something heavy. He hesitated just long enough for my mother, Vanessa, to tense beside my father. I didn’t miss the way my father subtly shifted toward her, like he was bracing for whatever came next.

Aaleric’s voice was grave. “Your mate isn’t in this world.”

Silence.

I felt Theo stiffen beside me, his heartbeat a fraction too quick.

My mother was the first to react. “You mean—”

“Yes.” Aaleric turned his gaze to us. “She is in the human world.”

For the first time in years, I felt completely, utterly unmoored.

I clenched my jaw, forcing my breathing to remain steady. Beside me, Theo’s reaction was the opposite—his fists tightened, and he inhaled sharply, his emotions raw and unguarded.

“No.” His voice was barely above a growl. “That doesn’t make sense.”

But I knew it did.

I exhaled through my nose. “Explain.”

Aaleric’s expression was unreadable. “You were conceived there.”

A cold sensation slid down my spine.

My father, ever the warrior, straightened, his face impassive. But my mother’s eyes widened, and she reached for him, her fingers curling around his wrist.

Theo exhaled harshly. “What the hell does that have to do with anything?”

Aaleric’s tone was patient, but firm. “Everything.” He looked between the two of us. “The mate bond is powerful, but it is tied to origin. When a fated mate is born, their existence is woven into the magic of this world. But you, Theo, Xander—you were not born of this world’s magic. You were conceived in the human world when your father was searching for your mother.”

Theo ran a hand through his hair, his frustration bleeding into the air between us. “You’re saying because we were conceived there, our mate is there?”

“Yes. She is there.”

A thick silence settled between us.

I watched Theo, his face unreadable, his body coiled tight like he wanted to punch through a wall. His entire life, he had dreamed of his mate. Of love. Of the bond.

And now, we have to go to another world to find her.

I forced myself to breathe. “And why,” I asked slowly, “are we talking about ‘she,’ not ‘they’?”

The room went still.

Aaleric’s eyes met mine.

Theo turned sharply, his brows furrowing. “Yeah. Why the hell are we talking about one?”

My mother sucked in a quiet breath.

My father—who had been mostly silent—closed his eyes briefly, his expression tight.

Aaleric took a step forward. “Because you are twins. Identical twins.”

Theo and I exchanged a glance.

“So?” Theo demanded.

Aaleric exhaled. “You share the same blood, same DNA. You came from the same egg, the same moment of creation. And so, the Moon Goddess has given you the same mate.”

Chapter 4

POV: Xander

I heard the words. I understood them.

But I didn’t react. Not yet.

Theo, on the other hand, did. “You’re telling me,” he said slowly, his voice rough, “that we are supposed to share a mate?”

Aaleric didn’t look away. “Yes.”

Theo let out a short, humorless laugh. He looked at me, his expression somewhere between disbelief and something darker. “Xander—”

I finally exhaled. “We should have known.”

Theo’s lips parted slightly, like he hadn’t expected that response from me.

But it made sense. In some twisted, cosmic way—it made sense.

Of course, the mate bond wouldn’t be easy for us. Of course, it would test everything we were.

And yet, there was one more thing. One more problem.

I turned my attention back to Aaleric. “She’s human.”

A nod.

Theo let out a sharp breath. “Fucking hell.”

I didn’t react. Didn’t let the frustration, the desperation, the sheer weight of what this meant crack through my composure.

But I felt it.

We had trained for war. Had spent our entire lives preparing to lead, to rule, to uphold the prophecy that loomed over us. But nothing had prepared us for this.

For her.

A mate we had to find.

A woman who didn’t know we existed.

A human.

I turned my head slightly, meeting my father’s gaze. His blue eyes—our blue eyes—were unreadable. But I knew that look.

He had been here before.

And he was afraid for us.

Theo let out another breath, running a hand over his face before looking at me again. His gaze was fire, frustration, raw emotion.

But beneath it—beneath all of it—I knew.

He would go.

I would go.

We had no choice.

Because she was out there.

And she was ours.

The realization settled in my chest like a weight I hadn’t expected.

One mate.

I stared at Aaleric, his wise, ancient eyes watching me and Theo closely, gauging our reactions. The room had gone quiet after his revelation, the sounds of the Moon Ball beyond the doors a distant murmur compared to the storm raging inside me.

One mate.

For both of us.

Theo was the first to react, his fingers tightening into fists at his sides. I could feel his tension without even looking at him, the raw, instinctual response of a man whose entire world had just shifted beneath his feet. I knew because I felt it too. We had always assumed we would each have a mate, two women destined for us. That was how it always was—one wolf, one mate. It was the natural order of things. But we were not natural. We were twins, identical in everything, down to our very souls. And the Moon Goddess had chosen only one woman for both of us.

I exhaled slowly, controlling the surge of emotions rising in my chest. “You’re certain?” My voice was calm, and controlled, but there was a razor-sharp edge to it.

Aaleric nodded. “As certain as the pull you feel within you. If your mate were here, you would have found her tonight.” His gaze flickered between me and Theo. “She is not in this world because she was never meant to be.”

Theo’s jaw clenched. “Because she’s human.”

The word felt foreign on my tongue, too. Human. Mortal. Fragile. Oblivious to our world, to the bond that should connect us. How were we supposed to convince someone like that—someone who didn’t even know we existed—that she belonged with us? That she belonged to both of us?

“Your parents faced this challenge before you,” Aaleric continued, his voice steady, reassuring. “Your father won your mother’s love without the mate bond. And she found her way back to him.”

I turned to Liam and Vanessa, standing side by side. My mother’s warm brown eyes, the same ones that had always comforted me as a child, were filled with concern, while my father’s expression was unreadable, though I knew him well enough to see the worry lurking beneath.

Liam exhaled and ran a hand through his dark hair, the same shade as mine and Theo’s. “I spent fifteen years searching for your mother,” he admitted, his voice quiet but firm. “Fifteen years of longing, of not knowing where she was, only to find her, and to see her being taken from me and sent to the human world, completely unaware of what she was. And when I found her… she didn’t remember me.”

Theo let out a sharp breath beside me. I knew that part of the story, but hearing it now, in this context, made it more real. My father had found his mate, but she had been lost to him, erased by magic, forced to live a life that had never been meant for her. And yet, he had still won her.

Vanessa reached for Liam’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “But I still felt something,” she said softly. “Even when I didn’t know him, I felt something pull me toward him. It wasn’t like the bond, but it was there. And I know your mate will feel it too.”

It should have reassured me.

It didn’t.

Theo shifted beside me, the tension rolling off him in waves. He was struggling with this, just as I was, but for different reasons. Theo had always been the one who felt things deeply, even if he tried to hide it. His primal nature made him need the mate bond in a way I didn’t. He had spent his whole life aching for it. Now, he had to share it.

“How do we do this?” I asked finally, looking back at Aaleric.

The wizard’s expression was unreadable. “You will need to go to the human world,” he said. “I can send you there for two weeks—twice the time your father had, and I will send you close to the bond, you will be close to her. But there will be a cost.”

Theo and I exchanged a look. “Our wolves,” I said, already knowing the answer.

Aaleric nodded. “The moment you cross into the human world, your wolves will be dormant. You will be human in every way that matters.”

Theo cursed under his breath. I stayed silent, processing. No strength. No heightened senses. No connection to the pack. We would be just like everyone else there, stripped of what made us who we were.

Liam exhaled, nodding slowly. “That’s how it was for me too. But you won’t be going in blind. The Nightfang Corporation still exists in the human world, even if we no longer do. You will have power. Money. Influence. You will be heirs there, just as you are here.”

Vanessa hesitated before speaking, looking between us. “Liam had an assistant,” she said. “He helped him navigate the human world. He had to learn everything from scratch. But the most important thing he learned was that love there is earned, not fated.”

Liam smirked slightly, looking at me. “If you go in too strong, you’ll scare her away. I nearly did.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes. “You definitely did.”

Theo let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. I almost smiled, but my mind was already moving ahead, planning, and strategizing.

“How do we handle this?” Theo asked, the seriousness returning to his voice. “We’re two, she’s one. That’s not something that happens in the human world.”

Vanessa nodded. “It’s going to be confusing for her. She may not understand it right away. You have to take it slow.”

Slow. The word felt foreign, impossible. Every instinct in me screamed that we had to find her, claim her, make sure she never slipped away from us. But instincts wouldn’t be enough this time.

This wasn’t our world. This wasn’t our rules.

And she wasn’t one of us.

I clenched my jaw, inhaling deeply. “Then we learn the rules,” I said, my voice steady. “And we make sure we win.”

Theo met my gaze, determination flaring in his blue eyes.

One mate.

For both of us.

And we were going to find her.

Chapter 5

POV: Mia

The bass thrummed through my chest, the pulse of the music matching the energy in the packed bar. My fingers curled around my drink as Karen tugged me toward the dance floor, already swaying to the rhythm.

“Come on, Mia! You need to loosen up!” she laughed, spinning in a circle.

I rolled my eyes but smiled, letting her pull me along. The place was dimly lit, neon lights casting a soft glow over the crowd, shadows shifting in the haze of movement. It was just another night, another bar, another excuse to forget about exams and assignments.

But then—I felt it.

A pull. A strange, unexplainable tug deep in my chest, like a string being gently but insistently pulled taut. It made me inhale sharply, my body tensing as if something had just changed. A feeling like my world would never feel the same again, I turned instinctively, my gaze scanning the crowd.

And then I saw him.

Dark hair, piercing blue eyes that seemed to glow even in the dim lighting. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with an effortless confidence, like he belonged wherever he stood. The air around him felt different, like he commanded the entire room without saying a single word.

The moment I saw him, the world around me dimmed.

Tall, dark, and dangerously captivating, he stood near the bar, radiating confidence that pulled me in before I even realized I was moving. His sharp blue eyes flicked to mine, a slow, knowing smirk curling his lips.

I didn’t know him. And yet, I felt like I did.

He had stood across the room, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that nearly stole the air from my lungs. Something about him was magnetic, something that made my stomach tighten and my fingers twitch around my glass.

And he was looking right at me.

But then, just as quickly as I noticed him, he was gone. Like a mirage in the middle of a desert. A trick of the light. I shook my head, exhaling through my nose, forcing myself to focus back on Karen, who was still laughing at something the guy next to her had said.

I needed a distraction. “Come on,” I grabbed Karen’s wrist, dragging her toward the dance floor. The music pulsed through my veins as I let the rhythm carry me, pushing the memory of those electric blue eyes aside. I could feel myself unwinding, my body moving to the beat, my lips curving in a smile.

And then—

He was there again.

This time, behind me. Close enough that I felt the heat of his presence before I even turned around.

“Having fun?”

The voice was deep, rich, a velvet purr against the shell of my ear. I turned to face him, and the same blue eyes burned into mine, except now, they were filled with something more. Amusement. Challenge. That same impossible pull that made my heart stutter in my chest.

I barely managed to find my voice. “Yeah. I was.”

He smirked, like he enjoyed my reaction, then extended his hand. “I’m Theo. And you?”

“Mia.”

“Mia,” he repeated, like he was testing the way it felt in his mouth.

A shiver ran down my spine. He was intoxicating, in a way that had nothing to do with the alcohol in my glass. We talked, his voice like a low hum against my skin, making me forget everything but him.

Then he was gone.

And suddenly, he was there again. Standing near the dance floor, looking at me like he could see straight through me. My pulse stuttered. I hadn’t seen him move, but somehow, he was back, closer this time, the heat between us crackling like a live wire.

“You keep staring,” I muttered, trying to sound playful, but my voice came out breathless.

“I can’t help it.” He stepped closer, his scent—something deep and wild—invading my senses. “I want to kiss you so much it’s driving me insane.”

The air between us tightened. My body, my traitorous, reckless body, leaned in. My pulse roared in my ears, every nerve alight with anticipation. I barely had time to whisper a protest before his lips crashed onto mine.

Heat. Pure, raw, searing heat flooded through me.

Pressure. Electricity that stole the air from my lungs. His hands found my waist, pulling me against him, and the moment our bodies touched, something inside me snapped into place. Like I had been waiting for this. For him. My fingers tangled in his hair, and I didn’t want to stop. Didn’t want to breathe. Didn’t want to do anything but melt into this kiss that felt like it could rewrite my entire existence.

I didn’t want to stop.

My name. Someone was calling my name.

Karen.

Karen’s voice cut through the haze, calling my name. I pulled away, gasping, reality crashing back down. I mumbled something—an apology? A goodbye?—before spinning away, forcing my legs to move toward my friend. Karen grabbed my hand and spun me into the crowd.

The dance floor swallowed me whole, my heart still racing. I lost myself in the music, trying to drown out the kiss, the fire still burning under my skin.

“You’re flushed,” she teased. “He must be a good kisser.”

I barely heard her, my mind still reeling. The way he kissed me, the way it felt—it was too much, too fast.

Then I saw him again.

Standing exactly where I had left him, waiting, watching. His dark shirt clung to his frame, his blue eyes smoldering. The pull was instant, undeniable. I didn’t think—I just moved.

And then I kissed him again.

This time, I was the one pressing in, the one claiming. And he let me. His lips were softer, the kiss slower but no less devastating. My fingers curled into his shirt, my body molding to his. It was the same. It was different. It was gentle, but at the same time, it was consuming, my legs felt weak, my heart felt full, and my body felt like it was in heaven.

And then I smelled him.

Not the same. Not the same.

I pulled back sharply, my vision tilting. My breath came in uneven gasps as I turned—and there he was. The first one. The one I had already kissed.

Standing right there.

Two of them.

I thought I was double vision.

My stomach dropped. My lips parted, words failing me as my mind scrambled to make sense of it.

Oh my God.

“I—” My voice broke. “I thought—”

Their matching smirks should have infuriated me, but I was too busy drowning in mortification.

“What the—” My voice died in my throat as I stepped back, eyes darting between them.

They were identical. Same striking blue eyes. Same dark hair. Same impossible presence that made my knees weak.

Twins.

I had just kissed them both.

“Oh my God,” I breathed, mortified. “I thought you were the same person.”

Theo—because now I knew it had been Theo first—chuckled, low and wicked. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

The other one just gave me an amused glance. “It’s okay, sweatheart.”

It was not okay.

I turned and left, my mind a swirling mess of confusion, embarrassment, and something far more dangerous.

Because now, all I could think about was how kissing them felt like stepping into something I could never walk away from.

What the hell just happened?

Chapter 6

POV: Mia

I barely got through the night without thinking about them. The moment my head hit the pillow, it was like my mind was rewiring itself around their existence—the way they looked at me, the way they kissed me.

Or rather, the way he kissed me.

No, they kissed me.

My stomach twisted every time I replayed the moment. I had kissed two different men thinking they were the same person.

Karen wasn’t helping.

“You kissed two guys at the bar thinking they were one person,” she said, cackling as we walked across campus. “That has to be a record.”

I groaned, hiding my face in my hands. “I don’t know what happened. It was like… I don’t know. I just felt drawn to them. And it felt right. Both times.”

Karen shot me a look. “That’s the weirdest part. Not that you kissed two ridiculously hot guys, but that you’re acting like it meant something.”

I didn’t have an answer to that. I barely had an answer for myself. I just knew that I felt something when I was near them—something I couldn’t explain.

We were passing the business building when I felt it again. That pull, like an invisible thread tying me to something—someone. My head snapped up, and there he was.

One of them.

He stood near the entrance, talking to some guys who looked just as polished as he did. But when his gaze locked onto mine, the rest of the world faded into static. I stopped walking. Karen did, too.

“Mia—” she started, but I was already moving, my feet carrying me forward like I didn’t have a choice.

I felt like I was under a spell.

He watched me approach, his sharp blue eyes glinting with something unreadable. I hesitated before speaking, my stomach a knot of nerves. “I, um…” I took a breath. “I wanted to apologize. For last night. I—”

He tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering over his expression. “Which part are you apologizing for?”

God he was making this even more difficult.

Heat crawled up my neck. “For… thinking you were the same person. For kissing you both.”

His lips twitched. “You shouldn’t apologize for something that felt so good.”

He felt it too.

God, it really felt so good.

I swallowed. “You—”

“Alexander,” he said, answering my unspoken question. “I’m Xander.”

I let out a slow breath. Xander.

That meant…

“Then your brother is…”

“Theo,” a smooth voice said behind me.

I turned sharply, and there he was. Theo.

I was sandwiched between them now, and my heart pounded like it wanted to escape my chest. But I didn’t want to escape that.

“I, uh…” My thoughts were scrambled. I had wanted to apologize and leave, but standing here between them made that impossible. “I’m really sorry, I—”

Xander smirked. “We already told you. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

“But—”

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Mia, it’s okay,” Theo murmured, and I hated the way my name sounded like something intimate coming from his lips.

I held even tighter the cup of coffee I had in my hands.

“Coffee?”Xander asked.

“Latte,”I answered.

I exhaled sharply, trying to get a grip on myself. “Then… what are you guys doing here?”

“We just enrolled,” Xander said smoothly. “We’ll be specializing in business for our family company. The Nightfang Company.”

I nearly choked. The Nightfang Company? One of the biggest private corporations in the country? And they just casually dropped that information like it was nothing?

My stomach dropped. “Wait. The Nightfang Company?”

They exchanged a glance, clearly amused by my reaction. “You’ve heard of it,” Theo said.

I gaped at them. “Everyone’s heard of it. You’re telling me you’re not just insanely good-looking, but you’re also insanely rich?”

Xander chuckled. “That’s one way to put it.”

Karen, who had been standing back with wide eyes, finally spoke. “Holy shit, Mia. You kissed billionaires.”

I choked. “Karen!”

Theo grinned. “She’s not wrong.”

I was in so much trouble.

Xander studied me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. “Now that we’re here, I suppose we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.”

A shiver ran through me. “Right.”

I exhaled, shaking my head. “So, what? Now I’m just going to keep running into you two?”

Theo grinned. “That depends.”

“On?” I challenged.

Xander’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “Whether or not you want to.”

I swallowed. Hard.

“What about you?” Theo asked. “What are you studying?”

“Veterinary medicine,” I said, grateful for the distraction. “I love animals, especially big dogs.”

They both chuckled, and I frowned. “What?”

“Nothing,” Xander said, his smirk making me feel like I was missing something. “Just… interesting.”

Theo nodded. “Very.”

I narrowed my eyes but shook it off. This whole conversation was already strange enough.

Xander took a step closer, his voice dipping into something almost teasing. “It’s destiny, really. We’re bound to run into each other again.”

My breath caught at the way he said destiny, like it meant something.

I stepped back. “Right. Well. I should go.”

Neither of them stopped me, but I could feel their gazes on my back as I walked away, my heart hammering in my chest.

Karen grabbed my arm the moment we were out of earshot. “You. Are. So. Screwed.”

I didn’t argue.

Because she was right.

I tried to keep myself at my studies; college was my priority, but the twins kept hunting my thoughts.

The library was supposed to be a safe space—a quiet place where I could drown myself in research and forget about the chaos of last night. But my mind refused to cooperate. Every time I tried to focus on the words in front of me, all I could think about was them.

I had to get them out of my head.

I still felt like my lips were bruised from their kisses. My body hummed with the memory, my skin too hot every time I thought about the way Theo’s hands had gripped me, how Xander’s lips had stolen my breath. It was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

Karen had laughed her ass off when I told her what happened.

Theo’s kiss. The way it had burned through me like wildfire, my body responding before my brain even had the chance to protest.

Then Xander. His lips had felt different, tender, gentle, but the reaction had been just as intense, like gravity itself had shifted.

It was bizarre how I already knew the difference, I knew exactly who they were, the scent, the hair, the little differences that made them so unique, even looking exactly the same.

I groaned softly, running a hand through my hair. I had kissed two men, thinking they were the same person. Two ridiculously attractive, insanely confident, and apparently very rich men. What the hell was wrong with me?

The chair across from me scraped against the floor, pulling me out of my thoughts. My breath caught when I looked up. Xander. He smelled like mahogany and leather, masculine and so fucking good.

Chapter 7

POV: Mia

He was watching me with that unreadable gaze, composed yet entirely present, like nothing else in the world mattered but me in that moment. It was unnerving. It was… thrilling.

“Studying hard?” His voice was smooth, laced with amusement.

I blinked, struggling to form words. “Uh—yeah. Trying to. Just trying to get some research done.”

“Seems like it’s going well.” He gestured toward my empty notebook. Damn it.

I huffed out a laugh, shaking my head. “I got a little distracted.”

He smirked, like he knew exactly what had me so distracted. “I can imagine.”

“What are you working on?”

I hesitated, then sighed. “A paper for my veterinary studies. Research on canine behavioral patterns.”

God, why did he have to say it like that? My stomach flipped, and I forced myself to look at my book instead of his ridiculously handsome face.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, needing to change the subject before I combusted.

“Studying. Business law, actually.” He leaned back in his chair, watching me. “But I saw you sitting here and figured I’d come say hello.”

“Oh. That’s… nice of you.”

Xander chuckled. “You sound surprised.”

I shook my head quickly. “No, it’s just—I mean, I didn’t think…”

He tilted his head. “Didn’t think what?”

I swallowed. “That you’d talk to me again.”

His expression softened. “Mia, you don’t have to apologize for what happened.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “I just feel kind of… I don’t know, crazy? It’s not every day you kiss two guys thinking they’re the same person.”

He laughed softly, and something about the sound made my chest tighten. “It was an honest mistake. And, for the record, you really shouldn’t apologize for something so good.”

My face heated instantly. I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

Xander leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table. “Let me make it easy for you. If you ever want to talk—or if you find yourself getting… distracted again—give me a call.”

He slid his phone toward me. I stared at it for a moment, my pulse hammering. Then, before I could talk myself out of it, I picked it up and typed in my number.

His lips curved into a satisfied smirk as he took his phone back. “Good”

He stood, and I suddenly felt like I could breathe again. But before he walked away, he set something on the table in front of me. A coffee cup.

“You like lattes, right?” he asked, like he hadn’t just stolen the last of my sanity.

I stared at the cup, then back at him. “How did you—”

“I pay attention.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me sitting there, staring after him like an idiot.

I was in so much trouble.

The moment I left the library, I felt like I could breathe again. Xander’s presence was suffocating in a way that left my skin tingling and my thoughts completely scrambled. I couldn’t understand why I had given him my number so easily. The moment his blue eyes locked onto mine, I lost all sense of reason. Around them, I lost myself. But when I was alone, when I wasn’t under their spell, the weight of reality hit me like a slap to the face.

This was insane.

I needed to get them out of my head.

Determined, I headed to the gym. Running had always been my escape, my way to clear my mind and push away thoughts that didn’t belong. The moment my sneakers hit the treadmill, I focused on the steady rhythm of my feet, the pounding of my heartbeat, the sweat trickling down my back. It was working—at least, for a while.

Until I saw him.

Theo.

He entered like he owned the place, black tank top clinging to his broad shoulders, muscles flexing as he moved. His hair was slightly messy, and a thin sheen of sweat already covered his skin like he had been working out before he even got here. My mouth went dry as I tried to focus on my workout, but my eyes kept drifting toward him—watching the way his biceps flexed, the way his body moved with controlled power.

I was supposed to be clearing my head, not filling it with images of Theo Nightfang and his ridiculously hot body.

As if sensing my stare, he turned his head, a slow smirk curling his lips. Shit. I looked away too late.

“Mia,” his voice was smooth, teasing, as he approached. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

I wiped the sweat from my brow, trying to appear unaffected. “I come here often.”

He hummed, stepping closer. Too close. The air shifted, charged with something electric. “Yeah? I think I just found a new reason to show up more.”

I let out a breathy laugh, rolling my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you like it.”

I hated how right he was. I swallowed hard, my body betraying me once again. The scent of him—something woodsy, deep, and utterly masculine—wrapped around me, making it impossible to think straight.

“Hey, I realized something,” he said, leaning in slightly. “You gave Xander your number, didn’t you?”

I stiffened. “How do you—?”

He grinned, like he had just caught me in some kind of game. “Figured. But, Mia, that means I don’t have it.”

I blinked, trying to process. “And?”

“And I think that’s unfair.”

Before I could think better of it, my fingers had already moved, taking his phone from his outstretched hand and adding my number. What the hell was I doing?

Theo smirked as he took his phone back, his fingers brushing mine, lingering for just a second too long. My breath hitched. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

I forced a laugh, stepping back. “You’re impossible.”

“Mm, but you like that too.”

I turned away before I did something reckless—like kiss him again. I needed to get out of here.

A cold shower. That’s what I needed.

After scrubbing away the sweat (and trying to scrub away the thoughts of Theo and Xander that refused to leave me), I stepped out of the gym and checked my phone.

My stomach flipped.

Two new messages.

Xander: My number, X.

Theo: Hope you didn’t tire yourself out too much at the gym.

I stared at the screen, my heart pounding.

What the hell was I getting myself into?

The first text came in just after I finished brushing my teeth.

Xander: Did you finish that paper?

I stared at my screen, a little stunned. It had only been a day since I saw him in the library, and yet here he was, checking in. And not in a casual, meaningless way—he actually remembered. Cared, even.

I hesitated before replying.

Me: Not yet. Still trying to figure out my sources.

His response came almost immediately.

Xander: I found a couple of articles that might help. Sending them now.

A second later, two links popped up in the chat. I clicked on one, scanning the title, my stomach twisting with something warm. He didn’t have to do that. But he did. Because he paid attention.

Me: That’s really nice of you. Thanks, Xander.

Xander: Of course. Let me know if you need help.

God, he made it so easy to like him. That effortless confidence, the way he was always in control—not in an overbearing way, but in a way that made me feel… important. Like I mattered.

A new message popped up before I could linger too much on that thought.

Theo: Are you ignoring me, little fox?

I blinked at the nickname. I wasn’t even sure when he started calling me that, but every time I saw it, my pulse spiked just a little.

Me: What? No.

Theo: Good. Thought I scared you off. Or maybe you’re just afraid to see me again?

My heart did something ridiculous, and I bit my lip, fingers hovering over my phone.

Me: I have nothing to be afraid of.

Theo: Then go out with me.

I should have expected that, but it still sent a rush of something sharp through my chest. I hesitated. This was a badidea. A messy, complicated, dangerous idea.

Unfortunately, that didn’t make me want to say no.

A pillow hit my arm, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts.

“Okay, you need to pick a struggle.” Karen flopped down next to me, stealing my phone before I could react. She scanned the texts, then grinned. “God, you’re actually living the dream. And you’re fighting it. Why?”

I groaned, rubbing my hands down my face. “Karen, I literally kissed both of them. How am I supposed to, what? Go on a date with one and pretend that didn’t happen?”

She gasped dramatically. “Oh no, you kissed two hot brothers. Whatever shall you do?”

“Karen.”

“No, seriously.” She turned to face me fully. “You’re overthinking this. You’re in college, Mia. This is the time to make bad decisions and have fun. And if this whole thing blows up in your face, at least it’ll make a great story.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, great. Imagine me at a family dinner if things did work out. ‘Hey, nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Nightfang. Fun fact, I made out with both your sons!’”

Karen smirked. “I mean, it’d be a hell of an icebreaker.”

I let out a breath, shaking my head. “It’s not that simple. I feel… drawn to them. Both of them. And I don’t know why, but it’s too much. It doesn’t make sense.”

Karen arched an eyebrow. “Who cares if it makes sense? Look, you don’t have to marry the guy. Just go out, have fun, kiss him again if you want to. Stop torturing yourself over it.”

I hesitated.

Then my phone vibrated again.

Theo: Come on, little fox, One drink. You owe me at least that.

Did I? Probably not. But when I thought about Theo’s hands on me, the way his lips felt against mine, the way I wantedmore, I found myself typing before I could talk myself out of it.

Me: Fine. One drink.

Karen let out a victorious noise as I locked my phone. “Good girl.”

I sighed, flopping back onto my pillows. This was a mistake. I knew it.

Then why did I feel so excited?

Chapter 8

POV: Mia

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my fingers gripping the edge of the dresser as I took a deep breath. This was insane. I shouldn’t be this nervous over a date. It was just drinks. With Theo. Not Xander.

I swallowed hard, pushing the thought away. No, I wasn’t going to think about both of them right now. I was going to enjoy my night with Theo. Karen’s words echoed in my head: You’re in college, Mia. Stop overthinking and start living.

Easier said than done.

A sharp knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts, and my stomach flipped. I grabbed my purse, smoothed my dress down, and took a steadying breath before opening the door.

Theo leaned against the doorframe, looking sinfully good in a fitted black button-up with the sleeves rolled up, showing his strong forearms. His dark brown hair was perfectly messy, his piercing blue eyes scanning me with open appreciation. “Damn,” he murmured, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. “You clean up nice, Mia.”

Heat crept up my neck, but I forced myself to roll my eyes. “Are you always this full of compliments?”

He chuckled, stepping back and gesturing toward the sleek black car parked at the curb. “Only when they’re well deserved. Ready?”

I nodded, following him outside. He opened the passenger door for me, and I slid into the buttery leather seat, inhaling the intoxicating scent of his cologne mixed with something purely him—something raw and magnetic. He shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side, slipping in effortlessly before the engine purred to life.

“Hope you don’t mind a little detour,” Theo said, casting me a glance as he pulled onto the road. “I know a great spot.”

A detour? My pulse jumped, but I kept my voice light. “As long as this ‘great spot’ isn’t some dark alley, sure.”

Theo laughed, the sound deep and rich. “What kind of guy do you think I am?”

I arched a brow. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

His grin widened, flashing a perfect row of white teeth. “You wound me, Mia.”

We pulled up to an upscale bar, the kind of place I’d usually avoid because a single cocktail probably cost more than my weekly groceries. Theo didn’t even hesitate, placing a hand at the small of my back as he guided me inside. The touch was casual, light—but it burned.

We found a booth in the corner, away from the loudest crowd. He ordered us drinks—something smooth and expensive-sounding—before leaning back against the seat, his gaze fixed on me. “So, Mia. Tell me something real.”

I blinked. “Something real?”

He nodded. “Yeah. No small talk. No ‘what’s your favorite color?’ or ‘what do you do for fun?’”

I hesitated, then shrugged. “Okay. Something real… I talk to dogs more than I talk to people.”

Theo’s eyes sparked with amusement. “Yeah?”

I smirked. “Yeah. Occupational hazard of being a vet student.”

He leaned in slightly, resting his arm on the table. “Do they ever talk back?”

“Not yet. But I’m holding out hope.”

He laughed, and just like that, the tension I didn’t even realize I was holding melted away. Theo was easy to be around, easy to like. He was charming in a way that felt natural, not forced.

It felt like we were meant to be,

The drinks arrived, and we clinked glasses before taking a sip. The alcohol warmed my throat, but it was nothing compared to the heat I felt under Theo’s gaze.

“You’re different than I expected,” I admitted, setting my glass down.

“Oh?” He tilted his head. “And what exactly did you expect?”

I pursed my lips. “Cockier. More arrogant. Less…”

“Less?”

I exhaled, shaking my head. “I don’t know. You just… feel real.”

His playful smirk softened, and for a moment, something flickered in his eyes. Something deeper. But then he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “You know what else feels real?”

I barely had time to process before his hand brushed against my thigh, sending a jolt of electricity up my spine. My breath hitched, and when his fingers traced slow, lazy patterns against my skin, I knew I was in trouble.

“Theo—”

“I want to kiss you every second I spend at your side,” he murmured. “But I’m not gonna do it unless you want me to.”

I swallowed hard. Every logical part of me screamed to slow down, to think. But my body? My body leaned into him before I could stop myself.

I tilted my head up, and the second our lips met, the world shifted.

The kiss was overwhelming—hot, consuming, sending a wildfire through my veins. Theo kissed like he did everything else—with passion, with intensity, like he wanted to devour me whole. His fingers tightened on my thigh, pulling me closer, and I let him. I let myself drown in the feeling of him, the way he tasted like whiskey and something addictive, the way his hand slid up my waist, igniting every nerve in my body.

I didn’t want to stop.

But eventually, I had to.

I pulled back, breathless, my lips tingling. Theo’s gaze was heavy-lidded, his pupils blown wide with desire. “Damn, Mia,” he murmured, his thumb brushing over my lower lip. “You’re perfect and dangerous.”

I huffed out a shaky laugh. “I think you’ve got that backward.”

He grinned, but before he could say anything else, my phone buzzed.

I glanced down. My stomach twisted.

Xander: Did you get home safe?

My heart clenched.

I shouldn’t feel guilty. But I did.

I looked up at Theo, who was watching me curiously. My lips still burned from his kiss, but my mind was already spinning in another direction.

Because no matter how incredible that kiss was, no matter how much I craved Theo’s touch… I knew deep down, I wasn’t just craving his touch.

I was craving both of them.

And I had no idea what the hell to do about it.

I couldn’t escape them.

No matter how much I tried to focus on my studies, on my life before they barged into it, they were always there. In my mind. In my body.

Xander kept texting me, always thoughtful, always helpful. He sent me articles for my research paper, checking in on my progress. His words were careful, measured, but I could feel the underlying care in them. Like he actually wanted to make my life easier. And damn it, that made me like him even more. It made me crave his touch, something I hadn’t even fully experienced yet. It made me wonder what it would feel like to have his hands on me, his lips claiming mine again.

But then there was Theo.

I ran into him on campus, completely unprepared. One moment I was walking, trying to get from one class to another without thinking about him, and the next, I was caught in his gravitational pull. He was leaning against a pillar near the courtyard, arms crossed over his broad chest, watching me like he had been waiting.

And when I got close enough, he didn’t hesitate.

His hands reached my waist, and he pulled.

He kissed me. Just like that. As if it were inevitable, as if resisting wasn’t even an option. His mouth took mine with a hunger that I instantly matched, my fingers threading into his hair, scratching at the back of his neck. A low growl rumbled in his chest, and I felt it vibrate against me. His hands holding my waist, pulling me against his body, and a fit, like we were meant to be, for the perfect fitting. My body melted into him, my mind going blank as heat coiled low in my stomach.

God, why did he have to feel so good?

I didn’t even remember how we pulled away. All I knew was that my lips were tingling, my legs unsteady, and my brain? Useless. Because as much as I tried to regain some sense, I knew the truth.

I wanted him. And I wanted Xander.

That night, lying in my bed, I couldn’t stop the dreams. I dreamed of Theo’s hands, of Xander’s eyes, of touches that burned and kisses that left me breathless. It was all so vivid, so intense that when I woke up, my body was aching, desperate for something I shouldn’t want.

And then my phone buzzed.

Theo: You dreamed about me, didn’t you?

My heart nearly stopped. My fingers trembled as I stared at the message, at the way he just knew.

I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. How the hell was I supposed to survive this?

Karen, of course, found my internal crisis hilarious.

“I don’t see the problem,” she said, sprawled out on my bed, scrolling through her phone like she wasn’t witnessing my absolute downfall.

I shot her a glare. “The problem is that I kissed both of them, and now I’m dreaming about them, and Theo somehow knows, and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

Karen arched a brow. “So?”

“So?” I repeated, incredulous. “So, this is insane!”

Karen rolled her eyes. “Mia, you’re overthinking again. You’re in college. You’re allowed to enjoy yourself. Stop freaking out and just… go with it.”

I groaned again, but deep down, I knew she was right. I just wasn’t sure if I was ready to admit what ‘going with it’ really meant.

Because if I did, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to stop.

Chapter 9

POV: Mia

I stared at the task list in my hand, then at the dozen dogs wagging their tails like I was some kind of savior. No pressure.

“Alright, guys, let’s try not to make a mess. Food, cleanup, meds—let’s do this,” I muttered, tying my hair back.

“Need some help?”

Xander’s smooth voice made me jump.

I turned to find him leaning against the gate, arms crossed, watching me with a smirk. Of course, he looked unfairly good, even in casual clothes. How was that even possible?

“What are you doing here?”

“I went to your dorm. Karen said you were volunteering.” He stepped inside, and the moment he did, every dog in the kennel snapped to attention, as if sensing something otherworldly about him. Within seconds, they practically worshipped him. A golden retriever leaped up, placing its paws on his chest, and instead of looking annoyed, Xander just laughed, scratching behind its ears.

“See? They like me.”

I huffed. “Yeah, well, they like anyone who feeds them.”

He shot me a knowing look. “Mmm. I think it’s more than that.”

For a second, I forgot how to breathe. There was something about the way he looked at me—like he saw straight through me.

And then there was the weirdest part.

The dogs listened to him. They took their medications without a fuss, no whining, no mess, not even a flinch at the injections. It was like they were under some kind of spell. Or maybe he was.

The dogs were Xander-enchanted.

And maybe I was Xander-enchanted, too.

We worked side by side—walking, feeding, playing. He was surprisingly good at handling them, effortlessly keeping them calm when they got too excited. And every time he handed me a leash or brushed past me, I felt it—that tingle, that warmth that warned me he was too close. Too much.

When we finally finished, he wiped his hands on his jeans and looked at me. “You owe me. That was a lot of work.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please. You had fun.”

His grin was pure mischief. “I did. But still, let me cash in my favor—study session? You’ve got a lot of reading to catch up on.”

I hesitated. Spending more time with him was dangerous. But I did need help, and Xander had this way of making everything make sense. “Fine.”

A little later, we ended up in my dorm. Karen was out, thankfully, leaving the space just for us. I sat on the bed with my laptop, sorting through the articles he’d sent me earlier while he organized my notes with infuriating efficiency.

“You’re way too good at this,” I muttered.

“I like order,” he said, voice smooth as ever. “And I like helping you.”

My fingers clenched around the blanket beneath me. The way he said things—so casually, yet full of meaning—messed with my head. I wasn’t just thinking about his notes, or his intelligence, or how kind he was. I was thinking about the way his lips felt against mine that night. How I wanted more. How I never got to feel his hands on me.

I was spiraling.

I snapped the laptop shut. “I can’t do this.”

Xander looked up, calm as ever. “Do what?”

“This—” I gestured between us. “I can’t keep seeing both of you. I kissed Theo. And I like you, too, and it’s all just—” I groaned, pressing my palms against my eyes. “I can’t keep going back and forth. It’s not fair.”

Silence stretched between us. Then, the bed dipped as Xander shifted closer. His hand found my arm, warm fingers tracing upward to my shoulder, then my collarbone. A shiver ran through me.

“Mia,” he murmured, “you’re overthinking.”

My heart pounded as his fingers brushed my skin, setting fire in their wake. His lips hovered near my ear. “You keep saying you’re confused, but your body betrays you. I know you want me.”

A shaky breath escaped me. “I kissed Theo.”

Xander exhaled through his nose, his grip on me tightening slightly. “I’d prefer you not mention my brother right now.” He leaned in, lips grazing the corner of my jaw. “Talk about me instead.”

His lips worshipped me, leaving heat all over my skin,

“Xander…” I didn’t even realize I whispered his name until his mouth finally met mine. And then, just like that, I was lost.

The memory of that first kiss with Xander at the bar haunted me in the best way. Back then, I couldn’t tell them apart—not in the way that mattered. But now, their differences were burned into my mind.

Theo was fire and instinct, all-consuming and raw, like something primal was clawing its way to the surface every time he touched me. But Xander—Xander was something else entirely. He kissed me like he was devoted, like he had studied me for years and knew exactly where to unravel me. His touch wasn’t just physical; it sank deeper, into my mind, into my very being. And the moment his lips claimed mine again, every single thought in my head ceased to exist.

He kissed me with purpose, like he had thought about this moment for longer than he’d ever admit. His tongue slid against mine, slow at first, teasing, before deepening the kiss. I melted into him, helpless to the pull he had over me. His hands traced over my skin beneath my shirt, leaving fire in their wake, and I knew I should stop this—I should say something. But I couldn’t. My body didn’t just want this. It needed it.

His lips left mine only to press soft, lingering kisses down my jaw, my neck, my collarbone. His fingers slipped beneath my shirt, pushing it up, and I lifted my arms, helping him rid me of it. I was just in my bra when he looked at me, really looked at me, his dark blue eyes heavy with something that made my stomach twist.

He reached behind me, unhooking my bra with a slow, practiced ease, and the piece of fabric was gone before I could second-guess myself. Xander sucked in a breath, his gaze raking over me as if committing every inch of me to memory. Then, without a word, he kissed me again—everywhere.

His mouth found my collarbone, then lower, kissing the swell of my breast before his lips closed around my nipple. Heat shot through me so intensely I gasped, arching into his touch. My fingers buried themselves in his hair, gripping, tugging, desperate for more. He took his time, his tongue circling, teasing, until pleasure was coiling so tightly in my stomach that I thought I’d break apart from just this.

I barely registered when he unbuttoned my jeans, his movements slow, deliberate, waiting for any sign of hesitation. But there wasn’t any. There wouldn’t be.

He peeled the denim down my legs, his lips trailing after, pressing soft kisses to my thighs. And then, those same piercing blue eyes locked onto mine as he hooked his thumbs beneath the waistband of my panties. He moved achingly slow, like savoring every second of this, every inch of me being revealed to him.

I should’ve been nervous. I usually was. But not with him.

With Xander, it felt inevitable.

His mouth found the inside of my thigh, his breath hot against my skin. I was already aching for him, already trembling from just anticipation. And then, with one long, slow lick, he destroyed me.

A choked moan escaped my lips, my hips jerking as his tongue moved against me, torturously slow at first before he found a rhythm that made my entire body tense with pleasure. He kissed my core like he was starving, like I was the only thing that could satisfy him. His tongue flicked, his lips sucked my clit, and pleasure built so fiercely that I felt like I was being consumed whole.

I gasped his name, my fingers clutching at the sheets, at his hair, at anything that could ground me. The heat inside me curled tighter and tighter until I shattered, pleasure surging through me so intensely that I swore I saw stars. My body arched, my legs trembled, and he didn’t stop, didn’t let up until I was a shaking, boneless mess beneath him.

He kissed his way back up, his lips brushing my stomach, my ribs, my throat. And then he was kissing me, slow and deep, and I could taste myself on him. He smiled against my lips before pulling me into his chest, his arms wrapping around me like he had no intention of letting me go.

I lay there, pressed against him, my body still humming with pleasure, my mind still spinning.

What the hell just happened?

But I didn’t regret it. I couldn’t.

Because, for the first time in my life, something felt completely, utterly right.

Chapter 10

POV: Mia

The moment of bliss was shattered by a sharp knock at the door.

“Mia? You in there?” Karen’s voice rang through the room.

Panic shot through me like lightning. I shoved at Xander’s chest, scrambling to grab my discarded clothes. He smirked, but there was heat in his gaze, his hands lingering on my skin for a moment before he pulled away. I barely managed to yank my shirt over my head when Karen knocked again, harder this time.

“Mia! Open up!”

Xander leaned in, pressing one last lingering kiss to my lips, slow and possessive. “Later, my girl,” he murmured, then slipped out just as I rushed to the door.

Karen stepped in, oblivious to the storm raging inside me. I felt breathless, weightless, my entire body still tingling from Xander’s touch. I couldn’t process what had just happened, couldn’t even put it into words. But I knew one thing—I was in deep, too deep.

Hours later, my phone buzzed. Xander.

Xander: “Are you free tonight? Go on a date with me.”

I stared at the message, my fingers hovering over the screen. Before I could answer, another message popped up.

Theo: “How’s my Little Fox doing?”

It was too much.

My heart clenched, my breath came shallow. My chest ached with something I didn’t understand, and my mind spun with the weight of it all. I couldn’t keep doing this. I couldn’t let them keep pulling me in, making me feel things I wasn’t ready for. This wasn’t fair—not to them, not to me.

My fingers trembled as I typed.

Me: “I can’t do this anymore. I think it’s best if we stop seeing each other.”

The moment I hit send, my chest caved in, like I’d cut off my own oxygen supply. My phone buzzed almost immediately.

Xander: “Mia. Don’t do this. You’re scared, but you don’t have to be.”

Theo: “This isn’t the answer, Little Fox. We can figure this out.”

I shut my eyes, ignoring the way their words made my stomach twist. I dropped my phone on my desk and tried to focus on my notes, on anything but the overwhelming ache clawing at my chest.

But it didn’t help. Nothing did.

I never thought I could feel this broken over something I never truly had. But here I was—devastated. I had let myself get too close, too fast, and now I was paying the price. It wasn’t just confusion twisting inside me; it was something deeper, something raw. I didn’t know how it happened or when, but somewhere between the teasing glances, the lingering touches, and the way they both made me feel seen in completely different ways—I fell. And now, I had to tear myself away before I lost myself completely.

The worst part? I missed them already. I missed the fire in Theo’s eyes when he challenged me, the quiet intensity of Xander’s gaze when he studied me like I was a puzzle he needed to solve. I missed the way they existed in my space, always pushing, always there. But they were two, and I was just one. And no matter how much I wanted to believe this could work, it felt impossible. So I did the only thing I could—I walked away. And it shattered me.

When I finally fell asleep, my dreams were nothing but them.

Xander’s lips on mine, the way he devoured me like he had all the time in the world to ruin me.

Theo’s hands gripping my waist, pinning me to him, raw and hungry.

Pleasure and heat swirled through me, consuming me, pushing me to the edge of something dangerous, something I couldn’t control. When I woke, my skin was on fire, my body trembling with need so intense it was unbearable.

I clenched my fists, my breath shaky. My body ached for them in a way that was almost painful. I pressed my thighs together, but it wasn’t enough. My own hands weren’t enough.

I felt a heat on my lower belly, a urgency, something with no reason to explain.

I needed them.

Tears burned my eyes as I curled into myself, swallowing down a sob. What was wrong with me? Why did I feel this way? It wasn’t just attraction. It wasn’t just lust. It was something deeper, something I couldn’t name, something that scared me to death.

I buried my face in my pillow, trying to breathe, trying to ignore the way my body betrayed me, the way my heart craved them, both of them.

But there was no escaping it.

I was completely, utterly ruined.

Karen convinced me that going out could be good, but I was just a shadow of me, and I hated feeling like this.

The club pulsed with music, the bass thumping against my ribs as I tried to lose myself in the moment. Karen had dragged me here, convinced that I needed to let loose, to forget. But even as I swayed to the beat, my mind was elsewhere.

But nothing felt right. The music, once something I could lose myself in, now sounded dull, lifeless—a background noise I couldn’t even pretend to enjoy. The guys around me, the ones who might have once caught my interest, now felt off, wrong, even repulsive in a way I couldn’t explain. They weren’t Theo. They weren’t Xander. Not even close. There was no heat in their touch, no electricity in their presence. Everything felt sparkless.

I just wanted to leave.

No—I wanted to run to them. Every part of me ached to hear their voices, to feel their gazes settle on me like I was something worth fighting for. But I couldn’t. My mind kept looping the same impossible truth—I couldn’t have them. Not both. The thought was ridiculous. Me, with twins? Come on. They’d never accept this. And even if they did… I couldn’t choose. The idea of picking one over the other felt like tearing myself in half, and I wasn’t sure I’d survive it.

I downed the rest of my drink, my hands trembling slightly. I turned to Karen. “I need to go.”

Karen frowned. “Mia, come on—”

“I can’t stay.” My voice cracked. “I just… I’ll see you later, okay?”

She sighed, giving me a reluctant nod before turning back to the cute guy she’d been flirting with. I slipped away, stepping into the cool night air, desperate for space, for clarity.

The streets were dark, the distant thrum of the party fading behind me. I hugged myself, my heels clicking against the pavement as I walked faster. I needed to clear my head, needed—

A hand grabbed my arm.

For a split second, my brain stuttered, expecting warmth, familiarity, the magnetic pull that made my breath hitch. But there was nothing.

Just alcohol and stale breath.

I turned sharply, my stomach dropping. A large man loomed over me, his grip tightening. His smile was sloppy, his words slurred. “Oh, you think you’re going home alone like this?”

I yanked my arm. “Let me go.”

He didn’t.

He stepped closer, his presence suffocating, his fingers trailing down my arm in a way that made my skin crawl. Panic shot through me, my breath coming too fast. My heart pounded against my ribs, my mind racing with a thousand ways this could go wrong.

I shoved him. “I said, let me go!”

He laughed. “Come on, sweetheart, don’t play hard to get.”

Then he pushed me.

My back hit a tree, the rough bark scraping my skin. My vision blurred at the edges. My body locked up, a scream lodged in my throat. I needed to fight, needed to—

A deep, hoarse voice sliced through the night.

“You’re messing with the wrong girl.”

The man turned just as two hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me away from him. Heat enveloped me, the scent of cedar and spice flooding my senses. My body knew before my mind did.

Theo.

The other voice came next, silk wrapped around steel. “She’s ours.” Xander.

The man scoffed. “Who the fuck—”

Theo moved first.

One punch. A sickening crunch. The man staggered back, clutching his bleeding nose, his eyes wide with fear as he took in the two towering figures before him.

“Leave,” Xander said, his voice dangerously calm. “Before I let him finish what he started.”

The man hesitated for only a second before turning and stumbling into the darkness, cursing under his breath.

I was shaking. The adrenaline, the fear, the sudden safety of their presence—it was too much. A sob ripped from my throat before I could stop it.

Xander caught me first, his arms strong, his warmth swallowing me whole. “You’re okay,” he murmured against my hair, his hand cradling the back of my head.

Then Theo was there too, pressing against my other side, his arms wrapping around both of us. I was sandwiched between them, their heartbeats steady against mine, their touch anchoring me. And for the first time that night, I felt safe.

I gripped their shirts, my fingers clutching the fabric like a lifeline. “I was so scared.”

Theo’s voice was a growl, barely restrained fury simmering beneath it. “If he had touched you—”

“He didn’t,” Xander cut in, his voice gentler. “She’s safe now.”

Safe. With them. And that terrified me even more.